30/09/2022
Do you want to Kick That Cancer in the Butt?
I was first diagnosed with cancer (stage 4 large diffuse B-Cell lymphoma) in May 2016 at 47 years old. Waiting for the detailed results was unbearable, thoughts of dying and leaving my daughters (then 15 and 13 years old) without a mum at such a vulnerable age, how would my husband cope with the day to day life admin I usually dealt with? Would my employer give me enough time off and keep paying my salary? Would dying be painful? How horrific would the treatment be?
My haematologist was wonderful and I went through the treatment he prescribed but I needed to do something more.
Being a lawyer I needed all the facts, google came in handy and so did all the people I knew, who had been through something similar. Hours and days and months of research, interviews, reading books and finding recipes helped me put together a plan to get through this crappy experience in one piece. It also helped my family to see me being proactive and positive.
I kicked it once but one year later it came back. It lodged in major nerves in my leg and I kept falling over, I was in excruciating pain as the nerves died. This time round it was so much harder, I couldn’t stand or walk without crutches so cooking was difficult. It took all my emotional strength to get through this second round of super-high strength chemo. I gathered together all my resources and beefed up my plan so that I would be fit and able to go through the recommended stem cell transplant.
I have now been 4 years clear and believe I’m a better person for having had cancer. I look back and I don’t regret it. I had weirdly lived my whole life worrying about getting cancer. Now I don’t fear cancer anymore, I feel strong and have a new healthier and happier view of life. I am kinder to people and want to help those who need it. Cancer has changed my life for the better.
And so for the plan….Here are my 10 top tips to help your body and mind and give you control throughout your cancer journey. I firmly believe that these efforts and more contributed towards me getting the all clear and with reduced treatment side effects throughout. Here we go:-
1. Anti-Cancer Food: I discovered the power of food, adding ginger, turmeric, garlic, cinnamon, broccoli, cooked tomatoes and many other things to my food wherever possible. I found some great recipes and cooking this new stuff not only helped to take my mind off the “what ifs” but also really helped me bounce back quickly after my chemo days.
2. Green Exercise: I realised the value of going for walks with friends in the woods and on the Heath near my house, it enabled me to let off steam and at the same time appreciate the beauty and miracle of nature and view the world and my place in it with a new perspective.
3. Fun, non-harmful experimentation: I had hyberbolic oxygen therapy (you need to talk to your doctor before trying this as it can react to some chemo drugs), infrared light therapy, kinesiology and I learnt about essential oils and vagal nerve stimulation amongst other things.
4. Cancer A-Team: Having an organised friend to rally the troupes, she was designated as The Messenger, funnelling info back to my family and friends; another was The Chef and regularly brought around meals for the family; another was The Walker who would force me out on slow walks, and others would be The Hospital Heroes bringing me edible snacks and coffee when I was “inside”!
5. Connecting with something bigger than me (angels/higher spirit/faith/Universe) through meditation, gong baths, crystals, faith healing and other things. I could feel support all around me. I knew I was not alone when I went through the life or death stem cell transplant.
6. Restoring a positive mindset: I kept a journal and each day wrote 5 things I was grateful for and 5 things I could do that day which would help me on my way to recovery, even something as small as reading a chapter in a book, spending time in the garden, having essential oils diffusing in my room, drinking a detox smoothie.
7. Creating energy when I felt like crap: It is hard but possible to get the energy to climb out of bed or face your treatment. Doing a breathing exercise by punching above your head with both hands and breathing out as you punch up and breathing in as you punch down is powerful, do it 10 times, take a break and do it again and then after another break do it one last time.
8. Being vocal during treatments: I had pretty ropey veins after so many visits to the chemo ward and I learned to be upfront when I went in, insisting that I needed an experienced nurse to insert the cannula so I didn’t become a human pin-cushion before the trestment had begun. With the second round of treatment I asked for a picc line to be inserted so this problem didn’t arise. Tip: take a pashmina or blanket to the treatment appointments so you don’t get cold when your picc line is connected to the drip.
9. Being vocal in your day to day life: Don’t be afraid to say “no” if people want to visit but you want time to yourself. Alternatively don’t be afraid to ask people to come to see you if you need company. Friends and family feel helpless and are usually really grateful if you request specific help, eg. Could you please take my kids to school, bring me a veggie curry, come with me to my hospital appointment etc.
10. Planning your post cancer life: I visualised exactly how my new life was going to look in minute detail, the new cropped pixie haircut, the cool clothes I was going to wear to fit my new look, who I was going to celebrate with and where, forgiving those “friends” who didn’t rally round because they didn’t know what to say, treasuring each day, loving the sun and the rain and saying prayers of gratitude for bringing me through the experience in one piece so I could help others.
If you’re looking to take control of your cancer journey and would like to connect with me, I will be running my online Kicking Cancer in the Butt Programme for ladies. Write “me” in the comments below or direct message me and I will send you the details and a questionnaire. I hope to see you soon.
